Regulatory
Shreveport, La., enhances water and sewer bill assistance program, expanding relief for residents
The Shreveport Water Assistance Program (SWAP), designed to provide relief for water and sewer bills, reflects a concerted effort to ensure equitable access to essential services for all citizens.
Mississippi Senate votes to change control of Jackson’s troubled water system
For the second year in a row, the Mississippi Senate has passed a bill that would transfer control of the state capital city’s troubled water system to a regional board.
Private utility wants to bypass Georgia county to connect water to new homes near Hyundai plant
Rep. Ron Stephens, a Savannah Republican, tells the Senate committee that state regulators' water limits on Bryan County's withdrawal from the Floridan aquifer, the region’s main water source, are hindering new home construction for Hyundai’s workforce, urging an expedited expansion of the county's water system.
California regulators greenlight program to accelerate electric infrastructure undergrounding
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has introduced a new initiative aimed at accelerating the undergrounding of electric distribution infrastructure across the state. This program, mandated by Senate Bill (SB) 884, targets increased system resilience and climate adaptation.
Texas launches $1 billion water fund as first step in addressing water woes
While Texas enjoys a significant budget surplus, its water woes persist, underscoring the need for innovative solutions beyond mere financial injections. Recognizing this, lawmakers have established the Texas Water Fund, earmarking $1 billion for water infrastructure.
Wisconsin appeals court rules regulators must establish PFAS restrictions before mandating clean-up
Environmental regulators can’t unilaterally force polluters to clean up contamination from so-called forever chemicals without going through the Legislature to establish specific limits on the compounds, a state appellate court ruled Wednesday.
States in Colorado River Basin clash over strategies amidst water shortages
The seven U.S. states that draw water from the Colorado River basin are suggesting new ways to determine how the increasingly scarce resource is divvied up when the river can’t provide what it historically promised.
Arkansas governor allocates $42 million for water infrastructure projects
In a move to bolster Arkansas' water infrastructure, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced more than $42 million in financial assistance for six water and wastewater projects across the state.
Evers again asks Wisconsin Republicans to release $125 million to combat forever chemicals pollution
Republicans who control the Legislature’s powerful finance committee refused to budge, raising the possibility that the money will go unspent indefinitely as municipalities across the state struggle with PFAS contamination in their groundwater.
White House is distributing $5.8 billion from the infrastructure law for water projects
The Biden administration announced Tuesday that it is distributing another $5.8 billion for water infrastructure projects around the country, paid for by one of its key legislative victories.
Cross-border pipeline to Mexico LNG plant receives U.S. regulatory approval
U.S. regulators have granted approval for a cross-border pipeline, facilitating the export of approximately 2.8 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas from Texas to the Mexico Pacific's Saguaro LNG export facility on Mexico's western coastline.
Court upholds Mountain Valley Pipeline eminent domain challenge dismissal despite recent legal shift
A federal appeals court has once again dismissed a challenge brought by landowners against the Mountain Valley Pipeline's utilization of eminent domain.
EPA expands technical assistance program to improve wastewater infrastructure nationwide
To date, the Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap initiative has helped provide communities with no-cost technical assistance that helps identify affordable options for accessing wastewater infrastructure.
House Republicans aim to expedite infrastructure permitting process with new water legislation
Floor action for the bill, titled “Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting” Act, could begin as early as Monday, Feb. 12.
White House renews calls on Congress to extend internet subsidy program
The White House is pressing Congress to extend a subsidy program that helps one in six U.S. families afford internet and represents a key element of President Joe Biden's promise to deliver reliable broadband service to every American household.
Mexico’s Supreme Court rules against electricity law favoring state-owned utility over private firms
A panel of Supreme Court justices in Mexico ruled Wednesday against President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s rules that favored the state-owned electrical power company over private power companies.
Chinese hackers are determined to 'wreak havoc' on US critical infrastructure, FBI director warns
Chinese government hackers are busily targeting water treatment plants, the electrical grid, transportation systems and other critical infrastructure inside the United States, FBI Director Chris Wray told House lawmakers Wednesday in a fresh warning from Washington about Beijing's global ambitions.
Biden delays consideration of new natural gas export terminals, citing climate risk
The Biden administration is delaying consideration of new natural gas export terminals in the United States, even as gas shipments to Europe and Asia have soared since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Understanding LNG and Biden's decision: A closer look at natural gas export proposals
Industry groups and Republicans condemned the pause as a "win for Russia," while environmentalists cheered it as a way to address climate change and counter Biden's approval of the huge Willow oil project in Alaska last year.
Nevada high court empowers water authority to shape underground resource management
Nevada’s top water official has authority to decide how underground supplies are allocated, the state Supreme Court said last week, in a ruling that could kill a long-stalled proposal to build a sprawling master-planned city north of Las Vegas.
California court ruling could threaten key source of funding for disputed giant water tunnel project
A California judge says a nearly 65-year-old law does not give the state permission to borrow the billions of dollars it would need to build a large water project, a decision that could threaten a key source of funding for a controversial plan backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to build a massive underground tunnel that would reroute a big part of the state’s supply.
EPA grants Louisiana power to approve underground carbon storage wells
Carbon capture technology is aimed at reducing emissions from industrial sources like ethanol plants and coal-fired power plants. The captured carbon can be transported via pipelines for injection in wells deep underground. It is these wells that Louisiana will now have the power to approve.
Canadian regulators deny FortisBC Energy’s natural gas pipeline plans
The British Columbia Utilities Commission denied FortisBC Energy Inc.’s application for its Okanagan Capacity Upgrade project, which includes the construction, installation, and operation of approximately 30 km of new natural gas pipeline.
Developers want water policy changes in response to construction limits on metro Phoenix’s fringes
Developers plan to seek changes to Arizona’s decades-old laws restricting construction in areas without adequate water supplies after the state said this summer that it won’t issue permits for new subdivisions in some areas on metro Phoenix’s fringes.
Drought-prone California OKs new rules for turning wastewater directly into drinking water
California regulators on Tuesday approved new rules to let water agencies recycle wastewater and put it right back into the pipes that carry drinking water to homes, schools and businesses.
Wisconsin DNR preps 2024 grant program for small water systems to deal with PFAS contamination
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is creating a new grant program to help small public water systems reduce PFAS and manganese contamination levels.
Governor Hochul allocates $479 million for 156 local water projects in New York
(UI) — Governor Kathy Hochul has announced $479 million in grants for critical water infrastructure projects. The funding, announced on Dec. 12, is projected to save local ratepayers an estimated $1.3 billion and create 24,000 jobs across the state.
Missouri couple facing charges after audit uncovers theft from Bootheel sewer district
A husband and wife duo are each facing two dozen counts of felony stealing after a state audit found they tapped a small-town sewer district for more than $160,000 in personal proceeds.
Residents in St. Croix sue government over water contaminated with lead and copper
A group of residents have sued a public utility company in the U.S. Virgin Islands after authorities there reported finding high levels of lead and copper in the tap water on St. Croix. The report caused panic and forced tens of thousands to rely on bottled water.
Drought-prone California advances controversial water tunnel project despite environmental opposition
A long-sought and disputed project in drought-prone California aimed at capturing more water during heavy rain storms reached a key milestone on Friday when Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration finished an environmental review for an underground tunnel.
- DeLa Express seeks FERC approval for Permian-to-Louisiana gas pipeline project
- OSHA penalizes Houston contractor over safety violations resulting in worker's death
- Fiber infrastructure has no known expiration date, Fiber Broadband Association research concludes
- Nevada OSHA fines Elon Musk's Boring Company over safety violations in Vegas tunnel project
- Damage prevention and safety: Turning awareness into action
- Ditch Witch 1030
- Michigan lawmakers introduce bills to create septic codes throughout the state
- Indiana American Water to gain 8,000 water customers with Silver Creek Water acquisition
- Arkansas governor allocates $42 million for water infrastructure projects
- Federal judge finds Flint, Mich, in contempt over lead water pipe crisis